Future of biomass plants up in air (Charlotte)

Orbit Energy Inc. hopes by 2011 to build its flagship biomass plant just south of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, utilizing technology that creates power without having to burn waste.

“We have pretty aggressive growth plans,” Orbit Chief Executive Anwar Shareef says. “We have projects in the pipeline in four states right now, including North Carolina.”

For Charlotte, Orbit envisions a $12 million, 3.2-megawatt plant that uses anaerobic digestion in closed tanks to break down biodegradable materials and convert them into a biogas that powers engines.

The facility will work with a range of materials, including food byproducts from industrial manufacturers, urban trash, yard clippings, paper and cardboard waste.

“It’s like natural gas but not as pure,” Shareef says.

The Raleigh-based company is in contract negotiations with utilities in California, Washington and Massachusetts. Duke Energy Corp. confirms it’s in talks with Orbit to purchase power produced at the plant here.

Three other companies are proposing waste-to-energy plants in the region. The ability to turn refuse — from household trash and construction debris to swine manure and chicken droppings — into electricity is a growing and sometimes controversial option in the renewable-energy sector. Combined, the four projects offer the potential of hundreds of energy jobs. If all are approved, the plants could bring more than $762 million in investment.

Read the full story in the Charlotte Business Journal.